2 held in Cebu for alleged online exploitation of 5-year-old girl

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Authorities rescued a 5-year-old girl and arrested her mother and the woman’s live-in partner for allegedly exploiting the child online for profit, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said Monday.

NBI-7 agents arrested the 25-year-old woman and her partner during a raid at a house in Sitio Tambisan, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Sept. 30.

NBI-7, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the joint operation.

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READ: Man caught trying to sexually exploit 3 victims online for pay

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NBI-7 said the case began Sept. 18, when HSI Manila referred information about illicit material involving children that was allegedly being sold online.

After verifying the information, NBI-7 sought a cyber warrant against the woman.

Judge Jose Nathaniel Andal of Branch 24 of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court issued the warrant on Sept. 29.

In a statement, NBI-7 said its investigation uncovered the alleged commercial distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors, including the suspect’s own child.

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The woman worked as an online seller, while her partner was an e-bike driver in the area, according to authorities.

NBI-7 also said the suspects had already been charged with violations of the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act (Republic Act 11930), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended (Republic Act 9208), and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act 7610).

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The offenses are nonbailable.

The suspects are being held at the NBI-7 office, while the child was turned over to the DSWD in Central Visayas for protective custody./coa